Tractor-frame suspension



E. E. WICKERSHAM. TRACTOR FRAME SUSPENSION.

APPLICATIO N FILED SEPT. 29, I9I9- Patentb i @6 3; 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

I a] MEI III IIIIHI 2 @1491; 601." lime/ E WZ/Z W'B/ZM A TTOR NE Y5 E. E. WICKERSHAM. TRACTOR FRAME SUSPENSION. APPLICATION FILED-SEPT. 29, m9.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6 12601 merflifim emm wheel 13 is carried at the forward end of the ELMER E. WICKERSHAM.

FAG'IURING COMPAN TRACTOR-FRAME SUSPENSION.

v Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntgd Get, 25, 1921,

Application filed September 29, 1919. Serial No. 327,285. 1

1 0 all w/wm it may concern Be it known that I, ELMER E. lVIoKnn- SHAM, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tractor-Frame Suspensions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tractors of the chain track type, and more particularly to means for suspending the main frame on the truck mechanisms. 1

The object of the invention is to provide supporting means for the main frame having a single point of connection only with each truck mechanism. This method of supporting the main frame is shown and described in my prior application, Serial No. 314,205, filed July 30th, 1919, and the pres- To support the main frame on the truck frames 11 and to drive the sprocket wheels 14 I provide a two-part shaft 16 journaled in a housing 17 carried upon the main frame at a point forwardly of the sprocket wheels Gearing 18 connects the propeller 19 with the axle 16, and a clutch mechanism 20 is included in each part of the driving axle for throwing either side out of ear whereby to steer and turn the tractor. arried within the housing 17 and surrounding the driving axle 16 is a sleeve 21 at each side of the main frame projecting from the housing 17 and having keyed to its projecting end a bearing 22 formed on the adjacent truck frame. Extending upwardly and formed integral with the bearing 22 is an arm 23, the upper end of which has a link 24 pivotally connected thereto and extending ent application contemplates a specifically rearwardly and pivoted at 25 to one end of different mounting for the main frame a leaf spring 26. The leaf spring 26 is pivwherein there has been a simplification and otally mounted at 27 on the rear end of the improvement of the mechanism throughout. main frame and at its opposite end it In the present invention I employ a rigid has a connection similar to that already detruck frame for each of the truck mechascribed with the adjacent truck mechanism. nisms and journal the driving sprocket wheel In the operation of the tractor the main on this truck frame. The driving axle for frame is supported entirely upon the truck the sprocket wheels is arranged forwardly frames through the sleeves 21 carried in the of the latter and the housing for this drivhousing 17. The main frame is held against ing axle is made use of tilting independently on these sleeves 21 by As a the rock connections with the l truck mechanism is free to rock about its pivotal connection with the main frame and when one truck is lifted upwardly at its forward end, as in passing over an obstruction, the opposite truck mechanism will be moved downwardly use of a leaf spring at the rear thereof and connect the same by links to rock arms formed on the pivot bearings of the truck frames.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a tractor embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

upward movement of the anis'm on account of the equalizing connection between. However, if the truck mechanism, which has the downward thrust applied thereto, is in contact with the ground A tractor main frame is indicated at 10 and unable to move downwardly the spring and at each side thereof is a chain track 26 will be flexed to an extent sufficient to truck mechanism made up each of a truck permit the necessary upward movement of M is journaleda series of supporting rollers l2. An idler sprocket rame, due to the presence of the spring 26, the main frame will maintain its position at all times, whereas the truck mechanisms will be truck frame and a toothed sprocket Wheel 14 rear of this'frame. endless chain track 15 is carried by the free to rise and fall to accommodate them-J selves to irregularities in the surface of the at its forward end to an extent equal to the first truck mechthe spring- ?26 so $2; without ruimig;

7 inveniiimusiuu; m (has.

niactor, a 'i; imchnni ring;- EL i ."o'i' *ihe chain tho uxie sowing to un i l'illl'u-i main ho in :1 tractor, u uuiiu i. (ha. in at and;

on; ml ".i h the main and an iiihi-i in! curried upon th tivvly conne toii w m: imisprockoi \vhwi. 2

Mm, on tho .-I mocha: ms owing about ih: point oi (oniuw-Lioii fining n york :u'ni fol-312ml (m Much wanna and :1 hplififg connouiied with the main frame and to pposite rock iiziny; i'he main frame.

ctozfn main Fr? A truck inccnzmisin a? e 11 side comprising {L TGiifil truck frame on which are journuieu u ti]i\' i11 and an idler sprocket whwi, u driving 4 carried. upon the main frame and opei'u- 4 tiieiy connected wiih the sprocket wheei. a housin for said axle serving; also to support the entire mi 'ht of the main frame on the truck frames, said true: mechanisms; being free io rock :ihont their point of connection with the main frame, a rock ni'm formed on such truck frame and a: 1611'? spring pivotnlly mounted on the/21min mine and having its opposite and sonnet-in} with said rock arms. 4:. in n which :1 nuzin frame. 2. chain tz'zuk tsuvh mochuiusm ui eauh side ihoivon EIWZUKS foi' HHPPUYQHQ the main fmuw Eli u :aingio poiu on each mun; ineohunisni, mid nu min mising :m :ixio nhouiwhich the), i'i'ilt'ii n'mi'hnnisms are we to rock, a with min on ouch truth IXlQCillHi 1, loaf spring pivot oily mounted on the main 'fizifll'd extending trunisveiseiy thereof and 2: connection between cuch and m" the 19:14 s'pi'in um! one of the roci-t arms, said leaf sprin i'v m s'mhiiivio the ninin frame and operating to impart u domiwzu'd thrust to onv. ti'iu-i mochan" in upon nn upward mownwni of the on positc t'ucii mechanism. 7

in testimony whereof I have hmwuuito set my hand in ihe {)I'QHPHUQ, of two subscribing w it ricwswu- L Lilli: $01 bbih 

